What are You Looking for?
by David Brenneman
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age," Titus 2:11-12.
"How blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of the Lord. How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart." Psalms 119:1-2.
In Psalms 119...ever notice the desires of the writer?
"Oh that my ways would be established..." v5
"Open my eyes that I may behold..." v18.
"Make me understand..." v27.
"I have chosen the faithful way..." v30.
"Teach me..." v33.
"Give me understanding..." v34.
"Make me walk..." v35.
"Incline my heart..." v36.
"Turn away my eyes..." v37.
"Establish your word..." v38.
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You." Psalms 119:9,11.
"How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart." Psalms 119:2.
The writer also says in verse 19 that they are a stranger in the Earth.
Consider all this...with what we read of "He who knows the good he ought to be doing and does not do it, sins".
Consider this along with the words of Jesus in asking, seeking and knocking.
Consider this with how much we seek out so much in life that isn't going to grow us in Christ.
Jesus said that if anyone wishes to follow Him they must do what? Take up their own cross and follow Him. For at a minimum of their time with Jesus, the 12 learned how to let go of their desires at to want what Jesus wanted. After the resurrection, with the empowering of the Spirit, they brought that teaching to thousands of others who taught thousands more.
Our world is replete with desires that have no end in sight. We are probably of all generations to date to be the most pitied. Jesus once said in a rebuke to a few of His Disciples that they know not of what kind of spirit they were. That the people they were quick to condemn really couldn't tell their right hand from their left.
Our world is overflowing with people who are so immersed in temptation and idolatry that they enjoy so much that to seek His Kingdom and His righteousness is less than secondary. Even identities are treated as disposable.
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age," Titus 2:11-12.
Deny ungodliness and worldly desires. In many people's lives its easier said than done.
It's not easy to let go of what obviously feels so good. It's not easy taking a stand that means going against the grain of worldly ideologies. We easily get goaded with words like "you're missing out!".
Leaning not on my own understanding has to include when it looks so good to say no to it in favor of what the Spirit is saying about it.
What are you reaching for in your life that, while it may be entertaining, may be pleasant, pleasurable, enjoyable, isn't going to grow you in Christ? It can be anything, anyone, that actually...in all reality...separates us from the will for us in Christ Jesus.
A career...a car...a television...a hobby...a relationship...anything in this world has the ability to entice a heart away from the righteous life that God desires for us.
Sometimes I wonder if things like bucket lists are really ways that we seek out things before we die that aren't healthy in having a right heart attitude in Christ.
The Psalmist, sometimes King David, sometimes other people, are revealing the desire of the Lord for us to desire as well. Here's what's important to desire when the world tries to teach you what to desire.
In Ezekiel 7-8 we read of things that the people of God were only thinking they were hiding from God.
Consider your ways, your desires, are they what the Bible says are going to grow you in Christ Jesus?
Do you take what's holy and spend it elsewhere? Think about it.
We have a life hidden in Christ...a life that if indeed we're following Him that we take up our own cross. A life that's fraught with landmines of desires that aren't going to be easy to navigate on our own.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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